Key two weigh up contentious bill

The federal government's embattled anti-discrimination legislation is now facing scepticism from crossbench MPs.

While both are reserving their position, independents Andrew Wilkie and Tony Windsor have picked up on the attacks being made against the controversial draft legislation.

Mr Wilkie said the legislation ''has attracted a remarkable amount of criticism from a very broad range of people and organisations''.

''Going by the criticism to date, I assume the bill will be significantly amended or dropped altogether,'' he said, adding that he would wait for the final version before adopting a firm position.

Mr Windsor said he had some concerns about what was being proposed, and had mentioned the issue to Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Mr Windsor pointed to ABC chairman and former NSW chief justice Jim Spigelman's criticisms about the legislation's dangers for freedom of speech.

The legislation consolidates several anti-discrimination laws, including one on racial discrimination, which refers to treatment that offends. The proposed law extends ''offending'' into the definition of discrimination for all purposes.

Ms Gillard said the government had put out an exposure draft of the bill and people's views would be considered. ''We would not have gone down an exposure draft route if we didn't want people's feedback,'' she said. But ''we're not starting from a blank page. We put out there what we thought was most worthy of consideration, but we put it out there for feedback.''

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott reiterated the Coalition's ''deep concerns''. ''We do not need any additional restrictions on free speech in this country.''

It was in the Liberal Party's DNA to support free speech, Mr Abbott said. ''The last thing we need is anything that shuts down legitimate debate in this country.''

The parliamentary inquiry into the legislation has a hearing in Melbourne on Wednesday.